Part of the goal of pineforest restoration is to provide habitat for wildlife like the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Part of the goal of pineforest restoration is to provide habitat for wildlife like the red-cockaded woodpecker.

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This longleaf pine in Village Creek State Park has the distinctive long needles.

This longleaf pine in Village Creek State Park has the distinctive long needles.

Photo: Tim Monzingo

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Bigger Thicket: Forest lands are target of grants

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The Big Thicket will grow a bit bigger thanks to $551,900 in grants to continue support of forestland restoration and working forests.

Originally, a swath of longleaf pine trees comprised 8 million acres across the South. As of a decade ago, that area had dwindled to about one million acres. Established in March 2013, the Forestland Stewards Initiative is a partnership created to conserve and restore southern forestlands representing some of America's most iconic landscapes.

As a private partner, International Paper recently announced alone has committed $7.5 million over five years to the project.

"By creating a stakeholder network of diverse organizations, partnerships like the Forestland Stewards Initiative enable International Paper to deliver on our commitment to use natural resources responsibly, thus strengthening the communities where we live and operate," said Tom Cleves, International Paper's vice president of corporate social responsibility.

The Texas A&M Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy-Louisiana Chapter will receive grants through the initiative that will leverage almost $670,000 in additional funds and in-kind support from agency and project partners, ultimately establishing more than 1,600 acres and enhancing an additional 7,200 acres of longleaf pine forest in the region.

"The Big Thicket Significant Geographic Area contains some of the best examples of high-quality longleaf pine in the Western Gulf region," said Eric Schwaab, vice president for as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's conservation programs.

Hughes Simpson, project manager for the Texas longleaf conservation grant, will be

working in conjunction with individual property owners to facilitate the success of the project at the local level.

He will teach owners effective cultivation of the longleaf pine, which includes controlled burning.

Fire itself is a part of the tree's natural life cycle as it helps to clear out competing plant life.